Humsafar Express has no halt in Ponnar’s home district of Kanniyakumari

In an instant reaction, passengers of the southernmost district have threatened to launch a rail blockage agitation if the railways failed to reconsider its decision.

The weekly service, which was flagged off at Gandhidham by Union Minister of State of Railways Rajen Gohain on Thursday, would reach Tirunelveli by 9.30 am on Saturday.

In its return journey, it would leave Tirunelveli at 10 am on Sunday and reach Gandhidham by noon on Tuesday.

The train, which has 13 stoppages, covers six states en route. After Tirunelveli, the next halt is at Thiruvananthapuram. Though it passes through the entire, Kanniyakumari district no halt has been marked in any of the stations in the district.

Speaking to DT Next, Edward Jeni, secretary, Kanniyakumari District Railway Users’ Association (KKDRUA), said trains started plying to the district in 1979. “For the first time in 40 years, a train travelling through the whole of Kanniyakumari has not been given a single stoppage in the district. It goes to prove that the Railways has completely neglected the district which has a population of around 18 lakhs,” he said.

KKDRUA president Sriram said, “When the train was announced last year, Nagercoil junction was included in the list of stoppages. But, now it has been removed from the list. If the same schedule continues without halt in the district, we will mobilise the public and stage a rail roko agitation.”